Chapter Text
It hurt.
His heart was beating in his chest but it felt like it had been ripped from him. He watched as Jiang Cheng, no Jiang Wanyin walked away from the burial mounds. Was it so wrong to protect the old and innocent? What had he done to deserve this fate?
He watched the blur of purple disappear into the fog that surrounded this cursed place. A wave of uncurable anger washed over Wei Ying, despite his anger his face remained unchangingly blank. Wei Ying turned to look at Wen Qing she said nothing as she looked into his eyes, he could see tears gathering in the corners of her eyes as she watched him. Wei Ying said nothing as he turned to walk into the Demon Quelling Cave. he needed to be alone with his thoughts. He walked in and sat on the rock he claimed to be his bed, he fidgeted with his hands as they sat in his lap. What is he to do now? Should he keep asking for help? He needed answers, but for once in his life he didn't have an answer for himself.
There was nobody he could go to and ask for help from. Out of necessity to distract himself he walked over to his most recent projects and began to work on them. He worked on them until dawn of the next day. It was a new day but that didn't mean he felt any better. Wei Ying got himself up from his position and walked out of his cave to see the Wen's working hard on building with the help of Wen Ning. He admittedly felt bad for making the poor ghoul break Jiang Cheng's arm, he felt he should have done that himself. As if a reminder of the recent fight he felt his abdomen throb from the untreated stab wound he sustained from the night before.
Wei Ying watched as Wen Qing walked up to him with a basket of supplies and offered him a smile. “I didn't want to disturb you last night and ended up ignoring your injury, but now that you're up and about, I expect you to sit down and let me fix you up.” Wei Ying said nothing but he did offer a nod of acceptance. It didn't take more than 30 minutes for Wen Qing to finish the job and walk off stating she had to go check her brother for any injuries as well. Wei Ying doubts that she didn't check him the day before. He stood up from where he was sitting and walked down to the town of Yilling. His legs felt heavy and the voices of the resentment floating around him put him on edge.
When he made it to the town he completely walked past its entrance and began to walk to a different path. He had made it only a few steps before he heard a voice call out to him. “You passed the village young master Wei.” Wei Ying turned to see Wen Ning standing a few steps behind him. “I'm not going to the village today.” Wen Ning tilted his head a silent signal for Wei Ying to continue.
“I'm going to go find someone who can help us. Tell your sister that I'll be back in a few days.” Wen Ning hesitated before nodding and walking off, only turning around to check on Wei Ying every 15 steps until he was out of sight. Wei Ying let out a sigh before he let himself go back into a meditative state. His body marched on to wherever it was he truly wished to go, while his mind wandered through the past realing in its self-realization.
Had Jiang Cheng, no Wanyin ever truly loved him as a brother? Maybe when they were kids that was the truth, but now? It felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest. He gave everything to the Jiangs, and to what? Be banished from a sect he loved more than life itself? The only Jiang he believed to hold no hatred was his self-proclaimed Shije. Although Wei Ying didn't know if she hated him or not since he hadn't seen her in a long time. He hopes she is doing well even if she hates him.
Wei Ying felt his legs give out snapping him out of his depressed stupor and causing him to take a look around. It appeared as though he was at the base of a mountain.
This mountain gave him a sense of safety and life. He had only closed his eyes for a moment before he heard a sharp gasp come from ahead of him. Soon a woman with a black veil covering her face popped into his vision, Wei Ying didn't know if it was just the exhaustion or perhaps a dilision but it had seemed as though the woman had two dark fox ears perched upon her head.
Wei Ying gathered all the strength in his body to utter a few words to the concerned fox lady. "Save them, save me. Please…” Wei Ying could feel himself drift to sleep, he felt bad leaving the woman in a state of panic but he simply could not stay awake any longer. He didn't know how long he had walked but he knew he would be asleep for at least a week.
—-----
When Wei Ying woke up he felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He hadn't laid in a bed this nice since his days in cloud recess. Wei Ying turned his head just in time for the door off to his left side to open. A woman who looked like the old paintings of his mother walked into the room and gave him a gentle smile. It took only a moment for him to realize the woman had nine fluffy tails and two fox ears adorning her person.
“Hello young one, how are you feeling?” Wei Ying offered her a strained smile about to attempt his classical Wei Ying bullshiting until she raised a hand to stop him. "The truth if you would please, young one.” Wei Ying nodded before he let out a sigh and turned his head to look at the ceiling above him. “I feel empty like my life has already ended. I feel angry at people I was brought to love, and I feel saddened by my inability to help those who have put their faith in me.” the woman hummed before she gestured him to go on as if asking him to reach into the deepest parts of his soul and hand her the true answer.
He let out a sigh and took a deep breath before he finally came up with the true answer. “I feel as though I have failed, and this guilt is eating at me.” The woman hummed and sat on the bed next to his prone body before she began to run her fingers through his hair, scratching at his scalp as she looked down at him. “What is causing you such grief and guilt young one?” Wei Ying did not answer, he simply closed his eyes.
He didn't have the heart to push away such a simple comforting touch. “Young one, I cannot help you unless you reveal to me your intentions.” Wei Ying could feel tears gathering in his eyes as he shut them tighter. He took a deep breath and held it for a moment before releasing it in a shuddering breath. “I am angry at my brother, he hates me and I have realized that little love came from my home. I am guilty of no longer wanting to help the people that both he and I owe because he has taken everything from me and now that I am repaying a debt that is entirely his, putting myself in harm's way I can't help but ask myself, why? Why do I let his problems haunt me when he doesn't love me? Am I wrong for not wanting to help those I have come to love because my brother denounced me?” Wei Ying opened his eyes allowing the tears to slip down his freshly cleaned face as he turned to look at the woman who reminds him so much of his mother.
"You are entirely entitled to your feelings young one, but that debt you speak of is not yours. The people you have come to love despite your debt to them need you despite the pain it causes you. You have every right to feel wronged, but you must not let that get in the way of your love for them. You want to help them even if your debt was lifted a long time ago. It is not wrong to love or hate. It is only wrong when you allow those feelings to bring destruction to those around you.”
Wei Ying let out a sob as he turned over to bury his face into her stomach, his head resting on her thighs as he bawled his eyes out in a way he hadn't dared to since he was a child. The woman didn't flinch and simply continued to run her fingers through his hair and whisper comforting words.
“You are such a strong child, you've done more than enough for those you love, and yet you come to me begging my sisters and disciples for help.” Wei Ying whimpered as he whispered a simple ‘Am I wrong for that’ into the woman's stomach, he squeezed her waist a little tighter fearing that she would leave.
“No, no, you have it wrong. It's not wrong for you to love beyond your capabilities. I am going to offer you two options, but first, I must introduce myself. I feel bad for leaving you in the dark despite knowing you myself.” Wei Ying lifted his head slightly to look at her. "You know me?” the woman nodded offering a bright smile to the red-faced Wei Ying. “what kind of grandmother would I be if I couldn't tell my grandson apart from any other man walking the streets?”
Wei Ying sat up quickly almost falling back over from a flash of dizzyness. “BAOSHAN SANREN?!” the woman chuckled and gently guided Wei Ying to lay back down on her lap. "Yes, yes it's me.
Now that you know who I am, would you like to hear your options?” Wei Ying thought for a moment before he nodded. "Perfect!” the woman clapped her hands together before she continued a smile still resting on her face. “Your first option would be to send those you wish to protect to me so that they can join my sect and be under my care.”
Wei Ying felt that his grandmother had given him a good choice but he knew the Wens wouldn't accept the offer. “Your second option is to unlock your mother's true blood within yourself and train with me for a month or two before you go out to create a sect of your own and offer them protection from yourself.” Wei Ying perked up at the second option but felt he should ask more questions before choosing. “Uhm can I ask a question?” Baoshen Sanren nodded to her grandson before he began once more with his questions.
“How exactly would I unlock my mother's blood? I'm already of her blood. What is there to unlock?” Sanren let out a quick and sharp laugh before she gained control over herself again and cleared her throat. “I'm sure by now that you have noticed I'm not entirely human.” Wei Ying shrugged and looked away as his face heated up. “I didn't want to bring it to attention, I felt that would be rude.” Sanren let out a deep belly laugh that sparked a happy seed in Wei Ying's stomach.
“I suppose that is fair. But if you are to unlock your mother's blood two requirements need to be met.” Wei Ying nodded along waiting for her to finish. “The first requirement is to unlock both of your cores, seeing as how you're missing your golden core I will have to force a tail of mine upon you for you to gain a core, this will at least take a month to do. As for your other core, it seems that you are subconsciously forcing its creation within your body.” Wei Ying's hands gripped onto his robes as he looked down to his lap.
“Is it possible to have a golden core again?” Sanren nodded and smiled placing one of her hands on Wei Ying's shoulder. “While it is possible it will be quite different from the core you had before.” Wei Ying looked up to her and tilted his head, “How so?” Sanren smiled at him and let go of his shoulder. “Since the core I'm giving you is technically made from my tail it will be pure huli jing heavenly energy. While a normal core is relatively human in its creation nothing about this core will be human. Are you prepared to become one with your nature? Or do you perhaps wish to stay human?” Wei Ying sat stunned for a moment as he began to think of an answer.
“What will accepting the core do to me?” Sanren gained a small smile as she sat next to Wei Ying once again. “The best way to explain this would be that your human blood would dissolve completely. You would become one with your mother's blood and would turn into a Huli-jing.” Wei Ying was speechless, was it worth giving up his humanity? Did becoming a Huli-jing make him inhuman, to begin with? Sanren seemed to be well-mannered and human at least. What's the harm in becoming more like his mother? “I accept. While I appreciate the offer to house my wards I just can't see them agreeing to accept the help of another.”
Sanren nodded, “You're a brave Wei-Sonja aren't you.” Sanren giggled as Wei Ying's face began to heat up at the endearing title. “What's the second requirement anyway?” Sanren let the smile slowly fall from her face as she gained a very serious look about her. “You have to come to gain the innocence of your heart.” Wei Ying tilted his head. “My heart?” Sanren nodded.
“Your father was your mother's heart, and from what I can sense from you, you've already met your heart.” Wei Ying's face scrunched up. “So like a soulmate?” Sanren thought for a moment before offering a slight smile and responding. “It's similar but a heart is much more important, a heart will tie you to sanity and life itself. When a heart is lost the body cannot survive.” Wei Ying nodded. “That makes sense I guess. But then who is my heart.” Sanren's face split into a mischievous grin. “The frozen dove.” Wei Ying tilted his head again. “Who is that supposed to be?” Sanren shrugged. “You'll know once you see him again. Do you want to start today or perhaps wait a while for you to recover?” Wei Ying shook his head.
“I've been here for a long time already, it would be best to start now so I can return to my people sooner.” Sanren helped him stand before placing a hand on his back and pushing spiritual energy into his mederatians.
“This may take a while but I believe you will do just fine.”
—-------------
Lan Wangji was standing outside the burial mounds, it had been nearly a full month since Wei Wuxian went missing. Wangji had stayed with the Wens once the letter from Wen Ning reached him. According to the letter Wei Wuxian had left stating he would return in a few days only to stay missing for two weeks. It had maybe been three and half weeks before Lan Wangji was even able to leave the cloud recess. This is the most stressed Lan Wangji has ever felt.
Wangji's uncle was unhappy with his disappearance but Wangji couldn't care less about that at this moment in time. He had been standing outside the burial mounds for a few days now just waiting on Wei Ying's return. With each day that passed Lan Wangji felt his hope slipping away from him. What if he's hurt? What if the Jins got him and are holding him hostage? Where in the heavens did he go?!
As hurt as Wangji was he never once stepped a foot away from his post unless Wen Ning came to take the shift for him, even then it usually resulted in a physical fight between the two of them until Wangji was too tired to stand properly which point Wen Qing came to take him to his resting place. Wen Yuan had taken to following him around ranting about his Wei-gege and asking when he'd be home again.
It was almost too much for Wangji to take, had it not been for Ganny-Wen he is sure he would have broken down by now. He felt like he was going to go insane. After two weeks of staying in the burial mounds, Wangji was standing outside the entrance when he heard footsteps coming up from the path. It wasn't unusual for a fierce corpse to walk up the path now and then but these footsteps didn't have any sort of dragging to them. They were clear in precise in their movements.
Wangji pulled Bichen from her sheath and got into position preparing for the worst. That was until he saw two fox ears pop up from further down the path, it took a few more steps from the stranger for Wangji to notice a very healthy-looking Wei Wuxian walking down the path adorning a pair of fox ears and three lazily swishing tails. He wore a veil on the bottom half of his face and had a Huadian painted onto his forehead along with sharp red eyeliner. Wangji was so stunned he released himself from his position and nearly dropped Bichen from his grip.
“Wei Ying?” Wangji watched as Wei Wuxian rushed over with a brighter smile waving his arm around in an imitation of a wave. “Lan er-gege! It's been a while hasn't it? How are the Wens?” Wei Wuxian stood a foot away from Wangji but there was something distinctly different about his height. “You shrunk…” Wei Wuxian looked shocked for a moment before bursting out into loud boisterous laughter. “Is that all you have noticed er-gege?” where Wangji remembered Wei Ying to be 185 centimeters there now stood a shortened 178 centimeters tall Wei Ying with new additions. “Do you like them er-gege?” Wei Ying did a small twirl slowing slightly to allow his tails to brush against Wangji's arms and chest before turning back to face him with a giggle on his lips.
“Yes. they fit Wei Ying well.” Wei Wuxian's face flushed but he quickly hid it by bringing a large sleeve up to hide his face slightly. “Why are your robes so large?” Wei Wuxian huffed at Wangji. “Well as you have so kindly called out Lan Zhan I have shrunk a few centimeters, I didn't feel like taking robes from my Halmeoni so I grabbed my old robes before I left.” Lan Wangji thought for a moment before it hit him in full force.
“You went to Baoshen Sanren?!” Wangji knew Wei Ying was exceptional but to have gone all the way to an immortal's mountain and become a Huli-jing in under a year is far beyond Wangji's understanding. "Yep! I went to get training and help! Now I can create the new Wei sect!” Lan Wangji was speechless, was Wei Ying stupid or just delusional?
If the sects found out heavens forbid the Jin sect, if any sect found out about Wei Wuxian's transition they would be stumbling over themselves to court him. Or if he was even more unlucky than he already was they would outright attempt to fox-nap him! Wangji takes back his earlier statement of being the most stressed he's ever been.
"Wei Ying needs to come inside. He must stay hidden from prying eyes.” Wei Wuxian began to laugh once more. “Is Lan-er-gege worried that this poor fox may cause trouble?” Wangji leveled Wei Wuxian with a blank stare, “Yes, Wei Ying is often at the heart of this Wangji's problems.” dragging the now stuttering Wei Wuxian past the shield on the burial mound Wangji rushed over to the horrible named 'demon quelling cave’ in a rush to hide Wei Wuxian away.
Once Wangji had made sure that Wei Wuxian was seated he began to flutter around the cave before sitting in front of Wei Wuxian. “Where has Wei Ying been?” Wei Wuxian tilted his head as a confused expression filtered across his face. “Didn't I tell you? I was with my Halmeoni on her mountain training.” Wangji's eye twitched. “Why.” Wei Wuxian scoffed and averted his eyes before offering a bare wrist to Wangji.
“Look for your self Lan Zhan.” Lan Wangji carefully took hold of Wei Wuxian's wrist and began to inspect his meridians. “You have two cores now… no you have more don't you?” Wuxian smiled a proud and blindingly bright smile, one so familiar and foreign to Lan Wangji. "Yes! For every tail I have, there is a golden core hidden within it! Isn't that so cool Lan Zhan!” Wangji could feel his soul leaving his body with every word that Wei Wuxian muttered. Wei Wuxian better be prepared to keep that secret within himself for the rest of his stupidly adorable life.
“Don't tell others.” Wei Wuxian smiled and shrugged as if it was an obvious statement. “Well obviously I won't tell anyone but you and Wen Qing! After all my ever esteemed Lan-er-gege would never put me in danger! And I can't hide secrets from my doctor now can I?” Wangji's ears began to head up but he said nothing as he cleared his throat. "Wei Ying should be more careful with his words.” Wei Wuxian chuckled and leaned forward into Lan Wangji's space. "Why does it fluster my Lan Zhan to hear my trust for him?” abruptly Lan Wangji stood up feeling heat simmer under the skin of his face. “I will go alarm the others of your return.” Wangji could hear the boisterous laughter of Wei Ying flowing after him from the demon-quelling cave as he rushed off to find Wen Qing.
—----------------
Wei Wuxian let himself take a deep breath after recovering from his laughing fit. He now knows what Halmeoni was talking about when she mentioned 'the frozen dove’ It summed up Lan Zhan perfectly! How funny, he wonders if he could get Lan Zhan's face to contort like it had back in their school days. He should put that idea on the back burner, he has a whole new sect to build.
Wei Wuxian brought a hand up to his nose flicking it with a finger slightly as he thought. The first thing he should do is absorb the Yang inside of the barrier. This should help the farming process and they might even be able to get some pheasants! The second thing should be the buildings, hell have to send Wen Ning and Lan Zhan (if he wouldn't mind, which shouldn't be a problem if Wei Ying offers a kiss as a reward) to chop some wood down and bring it to Wei Wuxian to cleanse and then use for housing and furniture.
Third Wei Ying will have to establish a sect name and political team before making the debut. He should also probably speak to the Jiang siblings about clearing his name and gaining a seat at the most recent conference. Easy peasy! Surely it can't be that bad.
"WEI WUXIAN!!” a rather terrifying call of his name graced his ears. It would appear that Qing-JieJie is not too pleased with him. Wei Wuxian stood up to begin his run for freedom when he was grabbed by the back of his robes and held up above the ground. “Lan Zhan! Put me down! Shijie is gonna strangle me!” Lan Wangji stood with a straight face as he offered the dangling fox to the Wen doctor. "Thanks to Hangunjun.” the wen doctor offered a friendly smile to Wangji before she snatched the poor fox and ran off to be behind a nearby bamboo screen (courtesy of Lan Wangji's recent spendings).
Wei Wuxian attempted to break free and run for the hills only to be paralyzed by Wen Shijie and tortured (scolded) for hours! (it was less than five minutes) but it was all worth it to see Wen Qing's relieved face before being pulled into a tight hug. “You told A-Ning you would be gone for a few days. It's been Months!” Wei Wuxian flinched and raised a finger to correct her only to be smacked over the head by her before he could say anything.
“And why the hell are you so short!” Wei Ying gasped offended by her words. "Short? I'm not short! I'm merely fox-sized!” Wen Qing leveled him with a stare, “Does being fox-sized equal to being the size of Jiang Yanli?” Wei Wuxian gasped grabbing his chest in his usual dramatic display. "I'll have you know I am 178 cm exactly!” Wei Ying harumphed and turned away from Wen Qing and before he could react she snagged one of his tails and started to move the tail around like it owed her money.
“Ai! Ai! Don't pull my tail Shijie!” Wei Wuxian snatched his tail from the offending hands of Wen Qing as he smoothed the fur out in a confronted way. “Why is your fur so tangled? Shouldn't you be taking care of it more?” Wei Wuxian shrugged after releasing his now sore tail. “I don't know! I haven't had the time to care for them. I was too busy training and then I was too busy traveling here!” Wen Qing stared at him for a moment before turning to Lan Wangji who was still standing on the other side of the bamboo screen.
“Master Lan, can I leave this filthy fox in your hands for cleansing?” only after she heard the affirmative humm did she snatch Wei Wuxian up once again and walk the wriggling fox over to Lan Wangji. "Here he's yours. The bath house should be mostly built I'll drop off some tailored clothes to fit his tails before you're done.” Wei Wuxian dangled uselessly from Lan Wangji's left hand as he nodded his head and began to walk off. "W-wait SHijie! No Lan Zhan let me go! Im clean! I Don't need a bath! Shijie!!!” Wangji dragged the screaming fox away as Wen Qing sighed and began to rub her temples.
This was going to be a long night.
—-----------
Many Wens offered their welcomes to Wei Wuxian as Wangji carried him to the bath house by the back of his robes (despite his pleading for their help). The two cultivators had even gained a devoted follower walking along with them carrying some bath supplies and different-looking brushes. “A-Yuan, please! Help your Wei Gege be freed from the evil Rich Gege's hands!” Wen Yuan merely huffed at his antics along with Wangji as they continued the walk.
“A-Niang needs to have a taste of reality.” Wei Wuxian stuttered as he argued the rest of the walk with A-Yuan, being lifted higher every other step as Wangji walked past rocks that littered the hill. Once arriving at the newly constructed bath house (more of a cave with natural hot springs) courtesy of Lan Wangji, A-Yuan wandered off to drop the bathing supplies in the washing area while Wangji (attempted) undressed Wei Wuxian. It took a lot of biting on Wei Ying's part to convince Lan Wangji he could undress himself.
By the time Wei Ying's bath was finished, his tails had been groomed to the point he felt they would fall off and Wei Ying himself could hardly keep from falling asleep. At some point, he had turned into his fox form and was now being carried back within Lan Wangji's arms along with a sleepy A-Yuan. Wen Yuan was leaning against Lan Wangji's shoulder as Wei Ying busied himself with chirping every time Lan Wangji so much as breathed wrong from within his position hiding in his elbow.
“Wei Ying should quiet down so that Yuan may rest.” Wei Wuxian huffed and shoved his nose deeper into Lan Wangji's elbow crease. Seeing (and hearing) how Wei Wuxian wasn't going to make any more noise Wangji slowed his pace to a calmer walk. When they reached the demon-quelling cave both A-Yuan and Wei Wuxian had fallen into a deep slumber. Carefully tucking both the fox and his ward into the brand-new bed, Wangji quietly left to find Wen Qing.